Parishes' Legacy checks put to good use

By Raymond L. Delisle
Communications Ministry director  
And Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

The check is in the mail. Actually, 42 checks, totaling $1,742,617.72, are on their way to parishes from blocks one and two of the Legacy of Hope capital campaign. Those parishes are receiving quarterly checks for their parish share.
For block one parishes, this is the third quarterly check. For block two parishes, which conducted campaigns six months later, it is the first check. At least two more blocks of parishes have yet to hold their campaigns.
“Discussions are going on with Guidance in Giving (the company conducting the campaign) and pastors in about 10 parishes to try to determine if it is feasible to begin block three this fall,” said Michael P. Gillespie, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development which oversees the Legacy of Hope campaign.
The goal of the $32 million capital campaign is to make the parishes stronger, because the life of the Church happens in the parish. Bishop McManus believes that “the diocese is as strong as its parishes.” Parishes, St. Paul Cathedral, retired priests, Catholic education, and outreach and evangelization efforts initiated in the parishes are to benefit from the campaign.  
All the money collected goes initially to the diocese, and the parishes’ portions are distributed to them after pledges are fulfilled. Parishes receive 40 percent of what they raise up to their target amount, and 60 percent of whatever they raise beyond the target.
“When we started our (in parish) receptions, I often said it was time for us to step up,” Bishop McManus said. “I thank God that so many of our parishioners listened and responded with such support for our campaign.”
Some 5,309 households responded to block one and two parishes, according to the development office. Nine parishes in the first block raised $4,111,244 in gifts and pledges that can be paid on over a four-year period. Thirty-three parishes in the second block raised $11,311,352.
St. Roch Parish in Oxford, a parish in block two, is planning to use its money first for a new boiler, because winter is coming, said Father Michael J. Roy, the pastor.
He said other projects are making the church building more handicapped-accessible – installing a restroom on the same level as the church and an outdoor railing going into the hall beneath the church, on the side that is level with the ground.
“We had a great success here; we hit 205 percent” of the target, with 35 percent participation, said Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Worcester, a block one parish. “I wouldn’t say it was easy.”
Christ the King’s target was $549,577 and they raised $1,133,519 in gifts and pledges, according to diocesan development office records.
Mr. Gillespie said virtually 100% of pledges are actively being paid, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The very high redemption, or payment rate, allows the campaign to send sizeable checks at this time.
Christ the King’s first Legacy share – more than $170,000 – was so high because many parishioners made a one-time gift at the beginning of the campaign, Msgr. Sullivan said. Since then the parish got $7,794 and is soon to get $14,472 more.
“Even with COVID going on … our people are consistently paying on their pledges,” he said.
“People saw their pledge as an investment in the future of their parish and our diocesan causes like priests’ retirement,” Mr. Gillespie said. “I’ve been truly humbled by their commitment,” he said.
Not every parish raised the same amount, so checks vary widely. The largest check this quarter is for $281,325. The smallest is $3,758.
“Regardless of the amount, I am confident that every check will be received gratefully to address the case that a parish had presented to its parishioners,” Mr. Gillespie said.
St. Richard of Chichester Parish in Sterling, another first block parish, used some of its money to reach out to parishioners when public Masses were suspended because of the pandemic, according to Father James M. Steuterman, pastor.
“We’ve spent a pile of money on technology” for online Masses,  he said. “That’s a good investment.”
The parish’s first LOH check was for $69,337 and the second check was for $7,155, the development office reported.
Father Steuterman said they haven’t spent it all, but having it takes some of the pressure off them.
St. John Parish in Worcester also earmarked some of its money for capital improvements, according to Father John F. Madden, the pastor.
They put the $50,000-plus initial amount toward a new sound system, which parishioners were very happy to have, even though it wasn’t in long before the coronavirus pandemic came and people were no longer in the church, he said.